Rock Island Line - The Lonnie Donegan Tribute Concert - Albert Hall, London, 21st June 2004

Please accept my apologies for taking so long to write my review of such a great night, which I know Lonnie would have enjoyed.

We owe a debt of gratitude from all of Lonnie's family and friends.

The evening got off to an emotional start, with a recording of Lonnie singing 'Grand Coolie Dam'. The audience was then transported back to the 50's after Lonnie's two eldest sons took to the stage and introduced the evening. They then proceeded to sing a song written about Lonnie by Chas & Dave, called Lonnie-D. A small group of dancers from the cast of the brand new musical Lonnie-D all dressed in 50's billowing dresses, neckerchiefs & teddy boy jackets joined the boys and set the tone for an exciting evening, celebrating Lonnie's life.

Then came the guest artists...

Chris Farlowe - Alabama Bound

He sang this song with so much soul and feeling that I think that there can't be a whiter black man around anywhere. And I don't know a black man who could sing it better than Chris did!

Ralph McTell - Grand Coolie Dam

He brought the song back to its roots... thank you.

Rolf Harris - Worried Man Blues / Puttin' on the Style

What a lovely man! He carries with him a sense of fun, love and warmth. There ain't another man I know who could have as much fun and make the world seem and actually feel brighter. The only man who can walk on stage and take away an entire audience's problems in one smile! - Love ya, Rolf... and your wobble board!

Gerry Marsden - Puttin' on the Style

Another man with an abundance of fun and energy. His prescence was fantastic to work around. Gerry and Rolf could have stole the night on their own.

Donegan Brothers - My Old Man's a Dustman

What can I say, 'cos I am one! What I can say is that it was a lot of fun. It's a great song to perform and I think special congratulations have to go out to my brothers Anthony and David. They have never done anything like that before and in my eyes they were fantastic.

Kenny Ball - Samantha

The man has still got it! He's bloody brilliant, you could tell now that Lonnie had a great eye for talent.

Peter Donegan - I love you

I wrote this song after my father passed away, with his advice. It was a privilege to be able to perform it at the Royal Albert Hall especially with the help of my twinkled fingered friend from the Costa del Sol, Mama Paula. She played the guitar on my original demo recording and took to the stage with the extra ordinarily talented fingers of Pete Wingfield (on keyboard) along with that sweet voiced angel, Kate Garner (the daughter of Chas & Dave's Chas Hodges). With her looks and voice there isn't another performer around who can match her, that is why I wanted her to sing this song with me. She was perfect and she added another dimension to my song which took it into another world for me. Thanks Kate!

Mel Williams - Have a Drink On Me

That reminds me, I still owe him a drink for this.

My dad used to call him Jumpin' Jack Fash, and as you can see they didn't call him it for nothing! Never have I seen a man unknown to the audience be able to become so well known in just one number! Well done mate it was great fun, have a drink on me!

Barron Knights - Does Your Chewing Gum Lose its Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight

This was very fitting for Pete and Bruce. They kept it fun and light, thanks guys- sharon.

Billy Bragg - Dead or Alive

Billy is a brilliant entertainer who was great fun to work with and who also manages to remain a down to earth and honest man.
This song was written by Woody Guthrie, and was made into a hit by both Woody and Lonnie. Any man who can manage to combine two different styles and combine two fitting tributes into one is fine by me- bloody great Billy.

Rick Wakeman & Chrissy Hammond - Seven Golden Daffodils

What can I say?! Words can't explain the rush of emotion that effortlessly went through me as I heard the brilliant sound of Chrissie's voice. Just wow!!

And Rick was fabulous..... We all know he's a bloody genius. He's not just a technically great pianist but plays with so much feeling and emotion too! Bloody great! Just stop making me follow you!

Joe Brown - Rock'o'my Soul / Battle of New Orleans

Joe was great and showed us where good vocal rehearsal and a dusty violin can get you!

Great fun on the night and has always been a good friend. Anything that I could say wouldn't do him justice. He is a man who's talent and vitality is mixed with a lot of experience. He will not be bettered or matched for a long time to come. Love you Joe!

Hogan's Heroes, featuring Bruce Welch & Hitsville - Railroad Bill

Here they are! Three Greek gay guys! (not really). Thats what I accidentally called them while rehearsing their introduction. What I was meant to say was that they were three great guys, and they are the best. They have fantastic voices, they are the soul version of the three tenors. With The Heroes singing along side Bruce Welch it was the icing on the cake.

Hogan's Heroes featuring Bruce Welch & Peter Donegan - Frankie and Johnny

I had great fun doing this song earlier in the year with Hogan's Heores in a small club in the North East. It rocked that night so much so that we asked them to do it on the tribute. With Bruce on board it made my night complete. Thanks all of you, it rocked!

Peter Donegan - I'll Never Fall in Love Again

This was a song which held mixed emotions for me. On the one hand it was something grand and exciting to look forward to, and on the other hand it gave me a bad case of the jitters. Many people in the audience would have noted that by the way I took my time before starting it. (and the aptly worn brown suit.)

This song wouldn't have been possible without the services of such a great band, especially Ray Cooper who can play a tambourine and make it into an art form. His artistry on this instrument can only be compared in the world of visual arts with a monet or van gogh! Without him and the three brilliant guys that are hitsville and the amazing talents of the three girls, who are beautiful in every way, it wouldn't have been possible. The sound of the girls voices makes you believe there is a heaven. It's the first time i've ever fallen in love with 3 women at once, and so quickly! - Margo, Aitch, and Claudia, you are the absolute best, you three were the icing on an incredibly delicious cake. Basically I had fun!!

Anthony Donegan - Corrine, Corrina

I was extremely proud of Ant that night. He has never done anything like this kind of show before and for him to be able to stand up there and hold his head up like that in front of thousands was an achievement some of us never manage. He carried the song off with such vigour and confidence, plus he sounded just like dad! I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do in the new musical.

Roger Daltrey - Times are Getting Hard, Boys / Ham and Eggs

Roger showed us the true extent of his vocal talents with his rendition of 'Times are Getting Hard, Boys'. The way he performed this song with its lonesome cowboy feel and its sensitivity showed us where his roots came from before hard rock.

Mark Knopfler, featuring Joe Brown - Darling Corey - Donegan's Gone

Mark told us that Darling Corey was his favorite song and he showed us how much by performing it that night. His guitar skills and style are still completely unique and always will be.

The second song he performed with Joe was a one he'd written to commemorate Lonnie and it was not only, in my opinion, beautiful but it was also clever in its use of some of Lon's song titles in the lyrics. The song was so touching and when he sung the lyrics "I could cry" it sent tears running down most of our cheeks. It was a very fitting tribute for Lonnie. Thanks Mark.

Joe Cocker - Diggin' My Potatoes / Nobody's Child

For me as a musician and a performer this was the sheer orgasmic climax of the night. He emits a sound that contains so much excitement and feeling that it is hard to believe it comes from one man. The only man to be on par with Lonnie. For me he was the only man to build this kind of show up to its climax. There isn't much I can say, because he is not only brilliant at what he does and a legend in his own right but he is a really sound, down to earth guy who was great to work with. This wasn't just playing music this was about being in the music and with all the backing singers on stage and musicians like Ray Cooper on percussion and Pete Wingfield on piano, it was better than sex it wasn't just orgasmic either it was multiple orgasms. I could do that all night, every night.

Pete and Anthony Donegan - Rock Island Line

Lets just say we had extreme fun, by this point in time we were on a major high from Joe and the lead up to the whole night. We had reached a point by now where we didn't care about anything any more, just how much fun we were having, in any case we had such a great band behind us it seemed impossible to go wrong! Ray Cooper was superb and how do think you would feel if you turned around and saw those huge cotton swabs he had on his sticks whacking from side to side crashing those cymbals. Bloody great that's how! This was a magic night for us and we were working with magic people.

Van Morrison - Lost John / Jesse James / Midnight Special / Goodnight Irene

Lonnie always called him 'Mat the Hat'. What a tribute to have this man. Lonnie recorded and performed with him many times with great pleasure. It is thanks to van that Lonnie got back on track (back to his roots) & Lonnie was so thankful that he would thank Van every night on his last tour. I really felt Lonnie was standing beside him on this great night. Thank you Van.

Van Morrison & Friends - Goodnight Irene

This was so beautiful to have Van bring on stage all of Lonnie's friends and family to sing this song, it was electrifying. Everybody in the hall was on their feet cheering for Lonnie.

God bless you, Lonnie.

Photographs - Zoe Jelley

p.s. between Lonnie's family (Peter Oakman, Paul Henry, Chris Hunt, Sticky Wicket, Mike Pace, Roger Dugelby and Lonnie's three sons, we will not let you be forgotten.